World Cup 2030 Africa Shows its Hand

World Cup 2030

The African Football Confederation (CAF) has thrown its weight behind the Spain-Portugal-Morocco bid for the 2030 World Cup.

The CAF executive committee has voted unanimously to back the trans-Mediterranean candidature, potentially handing Africa's 54 votes to join UEFA's 55 to push it over the finish line.

Spain, Morocco, Portugal & Ukraine are
in the driving seat to be 2030 hosts

106 of FIFA's 211 member votes are required to win the race at next September's FIFA Congress. Ukraine has also got on board with the 2030 bid and the plan is that it would host some group matches, peace permitting.

The remaining rival for the Iberian-Moroccan proposal is the four-nation bid from Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, while a three-country bid from Egypt, Greece and Saudi Arabia is expected. The former, although the first to announce its candidature, now looks eminently beatable.

The South American bid for 2030 is struggling

Greece's position in the tri-national bid could prove problematic however as the UEFA vote could split. As it stands the African votes will go to Morocco and not Egypt.

The Saudis are sure to offer the best-funded bid, inspired by Qatar 2022, but the rest of FIFA may feel a return to the Middle East is too hasty.